Tile spacing tool

ABSTRACT

A tile spacing tool has a body member or hub and a plurality of finger elements radiating outwardly from the body member. Each of the finger elements has a respective distal or free end with a respective width different from the widths of the free ends of the other finger elements. The different widths correspond to respective inter-tile distances or separations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tool for use primarily in the construction industry. More specifically, this invention relates to a tool for use in laying tile.

In the construction industry particularly as pertains to home and office wall and floor surfacing, the laying of tiles requires that the tiles be evenly spaced. While small tile may be attached to a carrier substrate and maintain their spacing by virtue of that substrate, larger tiles, for instance, one foot square tiles, are separately laid. The conventional expectations as to tile layout is that the tile spacings are even throughout the respective wall or floor surface. In some cases, to achieve a certain effect, vertical inter-tile distances differ from horizontal inter-tile distances. Or the spacings may vary in some other predictable or regular fashion. However, there is always a regularity or repetitiveness in the tile layout that requires groups of spacings to be the same.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for facilitating the spacing of tiles.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool that enables the user to easily and rapidly set distances or spacings between adjacent tiles during the laying of tile on a wall, floor or counter surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a tool that is inexpensive.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the drawings and descriptions hereof. Although each object is attained by at least one embodiment of the invention, no embodiment need necessarily meet every object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a tile spacing tool comprising a body member and a plurality of finger elements radiating outwardly from the body member. Each of the finger elements has a respective distal or free end with a respective width different from the widths of the free ends of the other finger elements. The different widths correspond to respective inter-tile distances or separations.

Preferably, the body member of the tile spacing tool is planar. In addition, it is contemplated that the fingers are flattened elongate members coplanar with the body member. The fingers and body member may have a common thickness. Alternatively, the fingers may have a thickness that is different from, for instance, less than, the thickness of the body member. In a particular embodiment, each finger has a thickness that is tapered from a large thickness at the joint or junction of the finger with the body member and a smaller thickness at the free or distance end.

It is contemplated that the fingers are spaced from one another angularly about the body member. More specifically, the fingers may be angularly equispaced about the body member.

The fingers are exemplarily three or four in number and have distal ends that measure respective spacings of one-quarter (¼) inch, three-sixteenths ( 3/16) inch, and one-eighth (⅛) inch. A fourth finger may be much wider, for instance, one-half (½) inch and useful, for instance, as a wedge for inserting under a tile edge and levering up a tile for repositioning or replacement with a different tile.

Typically, the fingers and the body member are all rigid elements rigidly attached to one another. The spacing tool may be made out of metal or alloy or even a ceramic material. The distal ends of the fingers may be provided with hard rubber tips or coatings to protect the tiles from inadvertent damage such as scratches.

A building construction method in accordance with the present invention comprises laying a first tile on a substrate surface and providing a tool including a body member and a plurality of finger elements radiating outwardly from the body member, each of the finger elements having a respective distal or free end having a respective width different from the widths of the others of the finger elements. The method further comprises holding the tool by gripping at least the body member, manipulating the tool to place the distal end of a selected one of the fingers against an edge of the first tile after the laying thereof, and positioning a second tile adjacent the first tile by moving the second tile into contact with the selected finger, along a side of the distal end thereof opposite first laid tile.

Pursuant to a feature of the present invention, the manipulating of the tool includes rotating the tool so that the selected finger extends at a desired angle relative to the hand of the user prior to manipulating the tool to place the distal end of the selected finger against the edge of the first tile.

A tile spacing tool in accordance with the present invention may be used by amateurs and do-it-yourself home improvement enthusiasts, as well as by professionals in house and office construction.

The numbers of fingers and their distal-end widths may vary from one tile spacing tool to another in accordance with taste and fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a tile spacing tool in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the tool of FIG. 1, from the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of another tile spacing tool in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view of the tool of FIG. 3, from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tile spacing tool 10 comprises a generally circular body or hub member 12 and a plurality of tapered finger elements 14, 16, and 18 radiating outwardly from the body member. Each finger element 14, 16, 18 has a respective distal or free end opposite body member 12, that has a respective width w1, w2, w3 different from the widths of the free ends of the other finger elements. The different widths w1, w2, w3 correspond to respective inter-tile distances or separations and may take suitable magnitudes, such as one-eighth (⅛) inch, three-sixteenths ( 3/16) inch, and one-quarter (¼) inch.

Body or hub member 12 is a planar piece, while fingers 14, 16, 18 are flattened elongate members coplanar with the body member. Fingers 14, 16, 18 may have a common uniform thickness that is the same or different from the thickness t1 of body member 12. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, each finger 14, 16, 18 is tapered from a thickness t2 at the body member 12 to a smaller thickness t3 at the free or distal end. Thickness t2 may be slightly less than the uniform thickness t1 of the body member 12.

Fingers 14, 16, 18 are angularly equispaced from one another about body member 12. However, the angular spacing between the fingers 14, 16, 18 need not be uniform.

A fourth finger 20 is substantially larger, for instance, with a distal-end width w4 of about one-half (½) inch and is provided for use as a wedge insertable under a tile edge for levering up the tile to facilitate repositioning thereof or replacement with a different tile.

Fingers 14, 16, 18, 20 and body member 12 are all rigid elements rigidly attached to one another. Spacing tool 10 may be made out of metal or alloy or a ceramic material. The distal ends of fingers 14, 16, 18, 20 are provided with hard rubber tips or coating layers 22, 24, 26, 28 to protect tiles from inadvertent damage such as scratches during use of the tile spacing tool 10.

As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, a tile spacing tool 30 comprises a square body or hub member 32 and a plurality of finger elements 34, 36, and 38 having tapered width dimensions and radiating outwardly from the body member. Each finger element 34, 36, 38 has a respective distal or free end opposite body member 32, that has a respective width d1, d2, d3 different from the widths of the free ends of the other finger elements. The different widths d1, d2, d3 correspond to respective inter-tile distances or separations and may take suitable magnitudes, such as one-eighth (⅛) inch, three-sixteenths ( 3/16) inch, and one-quarter (¼) inch.

Body or hub member 32 is a planar piece, while fingers 34, 36, 38 are flattened elongate members coplanar with the body member. Fingers 34, 36, 38 may have a common uniform thickness that is the same or different from the thickness T1 of body member 32. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, each finger 34, 36, 38 is tapered from a thickness T2 at the body member 32 to a smaller thickness T3 at the free or distal end. Thickness T2 may be slightly less than the uniform thickness T1 of the body member 12.

A fourth finger 40 is substantially larger, for instance, with a distal end width d4 of about one-half (½) inch and is provided for use as a wedge insertable under a tile edge for levering up the tile to facilitate repositioning thereof or replacement with a different tile.

Fingers 34, 36, 38, 40 and body member 32 are all rigid elements rigidly attached to one another. Spacing tool 30 may be made out of metal or alloy or a ceramic material. The distal ends of fingers 34, 36, 38, 40 are provided with hard rubber tips or coating layers 42, 44, 46, 48 to protect tiles from inadvertent damage such as scratches during use of the tile spacing tool 30.

A user simply holds the spacing tool 10, 30 by gripping body member 12, 32 between the thumb and forefinger, and places the distal end of a selected finger 14, 16, 18 or 34, 36, 38 against the edge of a first laid tile, whose position is acceptable, and adjusts the position of an adjacent tile by pushing or nudging it into contact with the selected finger, along a side of the distal end thereof opposite a side in contact with the first laid tile.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For instance, it is contemplated that body member 12, 32 may take a variety of planar geometric forms, including oval or elliptical, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. Alternatively, body member 12, 32 may be a three dimensional form such as a sphere, a cube, a rectangular prism, a truncated pyramid, a dodecahedron, etc. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tile spacing tool comprising: a body member; and a plurality of finger elements radiating outwardly from said body member, each of said finger elements having a respective distal or free end having a respective width different from the widths of the others of said finger elements, said widths corresponding to respective inter-tile distances or separations.
 2. The tool defined in claim 1 wherein said body member is planar.
 3. The tool defined in claim 2 wherein said fingers are flattened elongate members coplanar with said body member.
 4. The tool defined in claim 3 wherein said fingers are spaced from one another about said body member.
 5. The tool defined in claim 4 wherein said fingers are angularly equispaced about said body member.
 6. The tool defined in claim 5 wherein said fingers are four in number.
 7. The tool defined in claim 1 wherein said fingers are spaced from one another about said body member.
 8. The tool defined in claim 7 wherein said fingers are angularly equispaced about said body member.
 9. The tool defined in claim 1 wherein said fingers and said body member are all rigid elements rigidly attached to one another.
 10. A building construction method comprising: laying a first tile on a substrate surface; providing a tool including a body member and a plurality of finger elements radiating outwardly from said body member, each of said finger elements having a respective distal or free end having a respective width different from the widths of the others of said finger elements; holding said tool by gripping at least the body member; manipulating said tool to place the distal end of a selected one of the fingers against an edge of said first tile after the laying thereof; and positioning a second tile adjacent said first tile by moving said second tile into contact with the selected finger, along a side of the distal end thereof opposite first laid tile.
 11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the manipulating of said tool includes rotating said tool so that said selected one of said fingers extends at a desired angle relative to the hand of the user prior to the manipulating of said tool to place the distal end of said selected one of the fingers against said edge of said first tile. 